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Preconditioning or sensory preconditioning is a phenomenon of classical conditioning that demonstrates learning of an association between two conditioned stimuli. During the first stage of the experiment, two conditioned stimuli (CS1 and CS2) are sequentially paired with presentations of CS1 briefly preceding the presentations of CS2. In the second stage of the experiment, CS2 is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned response. Finally, in the third stage of the experiment, CS1 is presented by itself. The phenomenon is demonstrated if CS1 elicits a conditioned response during stage 3.